In an unusually direct public rebuttal, Australia Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins replied to journalist Daniel Brettig’s social media post sharing a report that alleged senior Australian cricketers were considering skipping the Big Bash League (BBL) in favour of South Africa’s SA20 competition in 2028, firmly dismissing the claims involving him as “made up”.
Cummins’s blunt response on X to Brettig’s post read: “Everything you’ve written about me in this about SAT20 NOC and The Hundred offer is made up.”
The report, published in The Age, claimed that a group of senior Australian players were weighing up the possibility of bypassing the BBL to participate in the SA20, amid growing frustration over the financial gap between Cricket Australia’s domestic competition and overseas franchise leagues.
Cummins was positioned at the centre of the story, with the report suggesting he was among players pushing for significantly improved BBL salaries, reportedly closer to the A$1 million mark, in order to make the tournament globally competitive.
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The article also alleged that several leading Australian cricketers, including Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, had received pre-auction offers worth around A$800,000 from England’s The Hundred competition, but opted against accepting them due to Australia’s Test commitments.
The broader debate reflects cricket’s growing financial tug-of-war between national boards and privately backed franchise tournaments such as SA20 and the UAE’s ILT20, which offer shorter windows and increasingly lucrative contracts.
Everything you’ve written about me in this about SAT20 NOC and The Hundred offer is made up 👍
— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) May 14, 2026
Cummins, however, moved swiftly to shut down suggestions that he was leading any player push against Cricket Australia or the BBL. By publicly stating that the claims regarding SA20 NOCs and The Hundred offers were “made up”, the fast bowler effectively distanced himself from the idea of an organised player revolt.
His response also carries significance given Cummins’ stature within Australian cricket. As national captain across formats and one of the sport’s most marketable figures, any suggestion of him abandoning the home summer would have intensified concerns around player availability and the future positioning of the BBL.
Despite the controversy, Cummins remains one of the highest-paid cricketers in franchise cricket. The Australian pacer is currently leading Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, where he was retained on a contract worth Rs 18 crore ahead of the 2026 season.
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